The participating organisations of the COE-FRA-ENNHRI-EQUINET Collaborative Platform on Social and Economic Rights drafted a joint statement addressed to government representatives attending the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter, organised under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 4 July 2024, in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The Collaborative Platform on Social and Economic Rights was created following a joint conference of the Council of Europe, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and the European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET) on October 2013, with the aim of strengthening cooperation to advance social and economic rights and socio-economic equality.
The joint statement, endorsed by the Platform at its 14th meeting (1 July 2024, Vilnius, Lithuania), emphasises the crucial importance of social rights and economic equality in ensuring the well-being and dignity of all individuals. In the current context of persistent economic inequalities, demographic challenges, housing shortages, social disparities, rising climate change, discrimination and marginalization of specific groups; the Platform calls on governments to reaffirm their full commitment to the protection and implementation of social rights as guaranteed by the European Social Charter system, and particularly by:
- Recognising the fundamental importance of the Charter as a Council of Europe human rights treaty upholding human rights and promoting social justice across the continent by ratifying the Revised European Social Charter and accepting additional provisions.
- Accepting the provisions of the Charter that reinforce the right to housing and the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion as fundamental human rights essential for the enjoyment of other human rights and the overall well-being of individuals and families.
- Ensuring implementation of commitments by transforming them into concrete action, including taking the necessary measures to bring national situations into conformity with the Charter requirements and the findings of the European Committee of Social Rights.
- Accepting the collective complaints procedure as an effective good governance mechanism to assist national authorities in their endeavour to uphold economic and social rights and extending the right to bring complaints to national non-governmental organisations.
- Enhancing dialogue and cooperation between the Charter organs and States Parties as well as amongst all relevant stakeholders, including National Human Rights Institutions, Equality Bodies and civil society organisations.